For a professional and retired Counter-Strike player, entering the HLTV Hall of Fame is the highest recognized honor. This list was started back in 2024, when HLTV joined hands with 1xbet to induct some of the best players from the past. Following the newly inaugurated tradition, 1xbet has nominated 10 players for HLTV Hall of Fame 2025, out of which three will officially make it to the list.
Players who are nominated for the HLTV Hall of Fame 2025 have shown the world their capabilities by giving countless unforgettable moments in Counter-Strike. With their extraordinary skills and Hall of Fame induction, some exemplary players will etch their names in the game’s history forever.
Here’s a list of all the players who are nominated for the HLTV Hall of Fame this year.
1 Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen
Credits: itsdupreeh/Instagram
The list starts with none other than Peter Rasmussen, AKA dupreeh, the undisputed king of AWP! You may also call him Mr CS:GO, as he has attended all 19 CS:GO Major Championship tournaments and has won five of them. Apart from his five major victories, dupreeh has 27 other tournament victories to his name.
Coming from Denmark, this player has made it to the Top 20 Player of the Year list seven times in 2013 (#18), 2014 (#16), 2015 (#12), 2017 (#10), 2018 (#5), 2019(#16), and 2020 (#9). While the accolades speak out loud, here are some notable achievements earned by dupreeh during his professional Counter-Strike career with teams like Astralis, Vitality, TSM, etc:
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PlacementTournamentTeam1stBLAST.tv Paris Major 2023VitalityLegendsIEM Rio Major 2022VitalityLegendsPGL Major Antwerp 2022VitalityLegendsPGL Major Stockholm 2021Astralis1stStarLadder Major Berlin 2019Astralis1stIEM Katowice 2019Astralis1stFACEIT Major 2018AstralisLegendsELEAGUE Major 2018Astralis3-4thPGL Major Krakow 2017Astralis1stELEAGUE Major 2017Astralis1/4 finalESL One Cologne 2016Astralis3-4thMLG Columbus 2016Astralis1/4 finalDreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015TSM3-4thESL One Cologne 2015TSM1/4 finalESL One Katowice 2015TSM1/4 finalDreamHack Winter 2014Dignitas3-4thESL One Cologne 2014Dignitas3-4thEMS One Katowice 2014Dignitas1/4 finalDreamHack Winter 2013CPH Wolves
2 Jorgen “XeqtR” Johannessen
Having played alongside HLTV Hall of Famers like HeatoN and Potti, XeqtR was a “tactical mastermind” during his time as a professional Counter-Strike player. This Norwegian player impressed the world when CS 1.6 was running at its peak and before CS:GO was even born! Being a master strategist and a legend of the game, XeqtR helped in shaping the future of Counter-Strike in the early 20s.
During his career, XeqtR worked with multiple Esports teams, including legendary organizations like SK Gaming, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and NoA. With these teams, this Hall of Fame inductee won multiple tournaments over two decades ago. For your reference, here’s a list of them:
PlacementTournamentTeam1stshgOpen 2006NoA1stWEG 2005 S01NoA1stCPL Winter 2004NoA2nd2003 CPL SummerTeam91stESWC 2003Team92ndClikArena 2003EoLithic1st2002 CPL SummerSK Gaming1stCPL Europe Cologne 2002Nordic Division3rdCPL Winter 2001MTW1st2001 CPL Europe BerlinNinjas in Pyjamas
3 Ola “elemeNt” Moum
Credits: olam3nt/Instagram
Ola Moum AKA elemeNt was the most sought-after player in CS history, as every team of his era wanted him desperately. A true master of Rifle and a great in-game leader, elemeNt has accomplished almost everything it takes to be called a Legend! For the record, he is also the first Counter-Strike player who was bought out of contract by a rival team – SK Gaming sold him to NoA in 2004 for a hefty price.
His A-class tournament victories in the early 20s earned him a name for himself and NoA, before FaZe would go on to popularize it for modern players. Here’s a list of achievements earned by elemeNt during his professional career:
PlacementTournamentTeam2ndCPL Winter 2006Meet Your Makers1stClanBase EuroCup XIIMousesports1stWEG 2005 S01NoA1stCPL Winter 2004NoA1stATI EverLAN Summer 2004NoA1stCPL Winter 2003SK Gaming1st2003 CPL SummerSK Gaming2ndClikArena 2003EoLithic2ndCPL Winter 2002GameOnline2nd2002 CPL SummerGameOnline
4 Abdisamad “SpawN” Mohamed
Credits: @SpawN_real/X
Dominating alongside HeatoN and Potti in Ninjas in Pyjamas and SK Gaming, SpawN has constantly shown the world why you can’t bet against his team. With major tactical brilliance and almost invincible with a Rifle, this professional Swedish player has led SK Gaming and Ninjas in Pyjamas to multiple major top-tier championships. Some of his most iconic victories are mentioned below:
PlacementTournamentTeam1stSamsung Euro Championship 2007SK Gaming2ndWorld Cyber Games 2006Ninjas in Pyjamas1stKODE5 2006Ninjas in Pyjamas1stNGL-One Season I – FinalsNinjas in Pyjamas1stEuropean Nations Champions 2006Team Sweden1stCPL Winter 2005SK Gaming1stCPL Summer 2005SK Gaming2ndCPL Summer 2004SK Gaming1stCPL Winter 2003SK Gaming1stWorld Cyber Games 2003SK Gaming
5 Raphael “cogu” Camargo
If it wasn’t for cogu, the CS dream for many Brazilian players would have slowed down back in the days. This player single-handedly changed the landscape of Counter-Strike for his country by joining hands with MIBR. Raphael AKA cogu was loved by the fans, as he was voted the third best Counter-Strike player from 2000 – 2010 by HLTV’s users.
At his peak, he led MIBR to multiple major victories in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Here’s a list of those victories:
PlacementTournamentTeam1stIEM III American Championship FinalsMIBR2ndIEM III Global Challenge Los AngelesMIBR2ndGameGune 2007MIBR1stESWC Brazil 2007MIBR1stshgOpen 2007 – Counter-StrikeMIBR1stWCG Pan-American Championship 2006MIBR1stESWC 2006MIBR1stESWC 2006MIBR1st2005 CPL ChileMIBR1st2005 CPL BrazilMIBR
6 Yegor “markeloff” Markelov
Credits: markeloff/Instagram
The Counter-Strike universe had received a new star, or “superstar,” when markeloff shook hands with Natus Vincere and changed CS:GO forever. This Ukrainian player was the main Sniper for his team for almost half a decade. Most still consider him one of the best AWPers of his time, as his ability to hit the head in one shot led Natus Vincere to multiple tournament victories.
HLTV had even ranked markeloff as the best player of 2010, as he was the true MVP of the game for several years before and after CS:GO was introduced. Check out some of his career-highlighting achievements below:
PlacementTournamentTeam1stWESG 2017 Europe FinalsTeam Ukraine1stDreamHack Open Leipzig 2017FlipSid3 Tactics2ndIntel Extreme Masters VINatus Vincere1stIEM VI Global Challenge KyivNatus Vincere1stIntel Extreme Masters VNatus Vincere1stDreamHack Winter 2010Natus Vincere1stWorld Cyber Games 2010Natus Vincere1stArbalet Dallas 2010Natus Vincere1stESWC 2010Natus Vincere1stIntel Extreme Masters IVNatus Vincere
7 Kyle “Ksharp” Miller
Credits: gogo_speedracer/Instagram
For popular Counter-Strike teams like X3 and Team 3D, Ksharp was the true MVP, as he led them to multiple tournament finals and victories during his time as a professional player. You have to associate his name with Counter-Strike: Source whenever you are speaking of it.
Coming from the USA, Ksharp helped Team 3D stay on top for several years. All thanks to his constant performance and teamwork! Some of his most iconic runs and performances were noted during the following tournaments:
PlacementTournamentTeam3rdNewEgg LANFest 2007New York 3D4thDigitalLife 2007New York 3D1stWorld Cyber Games 2005Team 3D1stWorld Cyber Games 2004Team 3D3rdWorld Cyber Games 2003Team 3D4th2003 CPL SummerTeam 3D1stCPL Winter 2002Team 3D7th-8thWorld Cyber Games 2002Team 3D2ndCPL Winter 2001X31st2001 Speakeasy CPLX3
8 Danny “fRoD” Montaner
Popular as a coach for T1 in Valorant, fRoD was one of the best Counter-Strike players coming from the USA after Ksharp left off. Before he retired from the game, fRoD helped Complexity Gaming earn four consecutive victories in top-tier CS tournaments. These victories weren’t even close, as Complexity dominated in most of those matches with fRoD in their corner.
As all good things come to an end, Danny “fRoD” Montaner, too, left Complexity and joined Evil Geniuses in later parts of his career. With them, he achieved the following feats:
Placement1stMSI Beat IT! 2010Evil Geniuses1stIEM IV American Championship FinalsEvil Geniuses1stGameGune Mexico 2009Evil Geniuses1stCGS 2007 Individual TournamentComplexity Gaming1stDigitalLife 2007Complexity Gaming1stChampionship Gaming Invitational 2006Complexity Gaming1stCPL Summer 2006Complexity Gaming2ndWEG Masters 2006Complexity Gaming1stGGL/ClanBase Trans-Atlantic ShowdownComplexity Gaming1stESWC 2005Complexity Gaming
9 Kenny “kennyS” Schrub
Credits: kennysofficial/Instagram
Imagine a player so good that he becomes the reason Valve nerfs AWP in 2015. Well, it would be a lie if we said that kennyS isn’t a reason why the developers had to make that move. With his fast reflexes, pinpoint frags, and accurate sniper shots, he helped squads like Team EnVyUs win multiple CS:GO tournaments.
On paper, kennyS is one of the best Esports players to ever come from France, and the following achievements are proof of it:
PlacementTournamentTeam2ndIntel Extreme Masters XIV – World ChampionshipG2 Esports1stBLAST Premier: Spring 2020 Regular SeasonG2 Esports1stChampions Cup 2019G2 Esports1stDreamHack Masters Malmö 2017G2 Esports1stESL Pro League Season 5 – FinalsG2 Esports1stWorld Electronic Sports Games 2016Team EnVyUs1stGlobal eSports Cup – Season 1Team EnVyUs1stDreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015Team EnVyUs1stGfinity Champion of ChampionsTeam EnVyUs1stIntel Extreme Masters Season X – gamescomTeam EnVyUs
10 Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer
Credits: olofkajbjer/Instagram
Out of the very rare players on the planet that barely knew the face of defeat, olofmeister is one of them. This Swedish player was ranked the best player of 2015 by HLTV due to his exceptional Rifling skills. He is the true reason why Fnatics were at the top of the CS:GO scene for two years (2015-2016).
After helping Fnatics reach the pinnacle of CS:GO, olofmeister moved to the FaZe Clan, where he used his experience and abilities to win back-to-back tournaments. Some of his career highlights are as follows:
PlacementTournamentTeam1stEPICENTER 2018FaZe Clan1stEsports Championship Series Season 4 – FinalsFaZe Clan1stELEAGUE Premier 2017FaZe Clan1stESL One: New York 2017FaZe Clan1stIntel Extreme Masters X – World ChampionshipFnatic1stESL ESEA Pro League Season 2 – FinalsFnatic1stFACEIT League 2015 Stage 3 FinalsFnatic1stESL One: Cologne 2015Fnatic1stESL ESEA Pro League Season 1 – FinalsFnatic1stESL One: Katowice 2015Fnatic
As mentioned earlier, only three of the above players will be officially inducted into the HLTV Hall of Fame 2025. The inductees will also receive the following rewards, with immense fame for their decorated careers:
- Induction ceremony during HLTV Awards.
- Rolex watch with Hall of Fame inscription.
- Special HLTV player profile.
- Commemoration on the new Hall of Fame page.
- An article and a video about their career.
Who do you think from the above 10 nominees will make it to the HLTV Hall of Fame 2025? Let us know your predictions in the comments below.
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